I thought you guys might like to see this beauty...

[twill]

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3b/65/e3/3b65e375e8bddbd8841d9fb12417ad5d.jpg

Just saw this and thought you guys might appreciate it. Silver Japanese hair fork/pin from the Edo period, belonging to either a geisha or an oiran.

Seen any special hair items that really blew your mind? Post them here!

[Simsy]

Wow, that is intricate.

[twill]

Wow, that is intricate.

Yeah... I'd hate to get it tangled...

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Wow, that is stunning!

[lapushka]

That is pretty! :)

[Neoma]

What a stunning piece! :cheer:

[pandabarrier]

That’s really a statement piece! It’s so beautiful! :thud:
I wonder if it is heavy because it’s made of silver.

[Jo Ann]

That is SO cool! The workmanship in the design is so intricate and lifelike.

[lithostoic]

Gorgeous! .

[Dems]

That is absolutely stunning!

[spidermom]

It's beautiful but I can't look at it without my mind's eye seeing my hair getting tangled up in it and pulled out by it.

[cjk]

What a breathtaking piece of art!

[Arciela]

Beautiful!!! :flower:

[TatsuOni]

Beautiful!

[twill]

That’s really a statement piece! It’s so beautiful! :thud:
I wonder if it is heavy because it’s made of silver.

It's over a foot long (bigger than I initially thought it was), so I'd say it's pretty heavy. Japanese geisha and oiran would have been used to it, though - they wore large hair ornaments on a regular basis (sometimes several at the same time) and put their hair and scalps through all kinds of harsh treatment.

This price tag on this one is over $10,000 btw.

[Rockin' Gramma]

Those are beautiful! Where did you find them? What fun it would be to go to a hair forks/hair ornaments museum exhibit from historical to modern times.

[Miruku]

It's over a foot long (bigger than I initially thought it was), so I'd say it's pretty heavy. Japanese geisha and oiran would have been used to it, though - they wore large hair ornaments on a regular basis (sometimes several at the same time) and put their hair and scalps through all kinds of harsh treatment.

This price tag on this one is over $10,000 btw.

It's over a foot long?? :thud: Wow, I have so much respect for them right now. With how tender my scalp is I can only imagine how it would feel to wear all those heavy hair pieces. (I always assumed that they were probably light)

[Isobibbel]

a beautiful thing, would put it on display instead of wearing it though. my hair cannot stand metal and all those intricate bits look like torn hair waiting to happen!

[Isobibbel]

Those are beautiful! Where did you find them? What fun it would be to go to a hair forks/hair ornaments museum exhibit from historical to modern times.

yes!!! I'm sure someone must have curated a hair ornaments museum somewhere???

[twill]

Those are beautiful! Where did you find them? What fun it would be to go to a hair forks/hair ornaments museum exhibit from historical to modern times.
I saw it on Pinterest and thought it was gorgeous. The original listing (on an antiques website) had some erroneous information, but it's still very cool. It comes with a museum stand, so the seller clearly expects it to be exhibited.

It's over a foot long?? :thud: Wow, I have so much respect for them right now. With how tender my scalp is I can only imagine how it would feel to wear all those heavy hair pieces. (I always assumed that they were probably light)
My understanding is that maiko (apprentice geisha) have their hair done with their natural hair, whereas full geisha favor elaborate wigs. I was under the impression that geisha had their hairstyles done with their natural hair around the time this hair ornament was made, however. I could be wrong.

yes!!! I'm sure someone must have curated a hair ornaments museum somewhere???
They may have, but I expect a piece like this might simply be put in a general exhibit of Japanese art.

[bparnell75]

I agree it reminds me of plenty of tangles

[Chromis]

Those are beautiful! Where did you find them? What fun it would be to go to a hair forks/hair ornaments museum exhibit from historical to modern times.

I take a lot of pictures of hair things in museums, have always meant to start a thread for them or see if we had one already :D

Once you start noticing them, they are everywhere!

[TatsuOni]

My understanding is that maiko (apprentice geisha) have their hair done with their natural hair, whereas full geisha favor elaborate wigs. I was under the impression that geisha had their hairstyles done with their natural hair around the time this hair ornament was made, however. I could be wrong.

That's correct :)

[twill]

There wasn't any additional info on these two ginkgo leaf hair sticks, but I thought they were fabulous:
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/10/2c/04/102c0487a20bcc9001f8574c284cef16.jpg

Also, I saw this piece and thought it was possibly Japanese, but it was actually designed by a well-known Russian jeweler.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e4/d9/f9/e4d9f9e3aee921ab3e1c9e27fd2c9e80.jpg

[twill]

I take a lot of pictures of hair things in museums, have always meant to start a thread for them or see if we had one already :D

Once you start noticing them, they are everywhere!
Yep! I've been noticing them more often myself... some of them are quite fantastic.

That's correct :)
Good - I thought for certain that I had read that they did, but I couldn't find any reliable info on it in a quick search to try and confirm it. Most of the info out there is on modern geisha, who pretty much always use wigs nowadays.

[twill]

Japanese hair ornaments, such as the crane fork, are called kanzashi. I'd forgotten the specific name. (As it happens, I realize now that I have a LOT of modern kanzashi on my Pinterest boards...) I found this page, which has a list of common geisha hairstyles:
https://www.japanpowered.com/japan-culture/geisha-path-dance-shamisen

One of the kanzashi I have pinned: Wisteria hair stick
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/74/51/ba/7451ba599c16349cab7ac8176b3266db.jpg

[TatsuOni]

Maikos usually wear more eye catching clothes, make up and hair ornaments, while geisha's (geikos in Kyoto) mostly wear less colorful and eye catching stuff. Though geishas dress up more too, during dance performances and other special events.

A maikos hair ornaments changes with the months and seasons and there's different flowers and colors for every month. http://geisha-kai.tumblr.com/post/10078549192

And beautiful pics OP :) I wouldn't more :)

[Chromis]

Gentle mod reminder - super love seeing these but please put pictures that are not yours in regular links rather than hotlinking them here, Thanks!

[twill]

Maikos usually wear more eye catching clothes, make up and hair ornaments, while geisha's (geikos in Kyoto) mostly wear less colorful and eye catching stuff. Though geishas dress up more too, during dance performances and other special events.

A maikos hair ornaments changes with the months and seasons and there's different flowers and colors for every month. http://geisha-kai.tumblr.com/post/10078549192

And beautiful pics OP :) I wouldn't more :)
Yup! The kimonos change with the seasons, too. There's also a difference in hair ornaments between very young maikos and senior maikos. The young maikos tend to wear the showy sprays of white or red flowers. There's a very interesting article I came across here (mostly accurate, minus the section about mizuage and possibly dannas - geisha did indeed sometimes go through mizuage but the practice died out about 100 years ago - no point in trying to whitewash it; Liza Dalby, who did her research back in the 1970's, mentions meeting some old geisha who went through it as young girls. As for what the article says about geisha no longer having dannas, I'm not sure I believe that; Dalby mentions in her book that the Tokyo - or Kyoto, I don't remember - geisha were very independent; if the article's author has only had experience with geisha from those regions, that would explain why she thinks the tradition of having dannas/patrons is defunct. It could very well be defunct in the regions she visited. Another factor being that as Asia becomes more Westernized, wives are less tolerant of their husbands being geisha dannas) that about halfway through mentions the makeup differences and how to spot tourists pretending to be geisha: https://iamaileen.com/understand-japanese-geisha-geiko-maiko-define/
https://iamaileen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/maiko-geisha-oiran-difference-japan-entertainers-girls-facts3.jpg
https://iamaileen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/geisha-vs-maiko-geiko-difference-makeup-hair3.jpg



Gentle mod reminder - super love seeing these but please put pictures that are not yours in regular links rather than hotlinking them here, Thanks!
Gotcha!

[twill]

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5c/e9/5d/5ce95d6bf7a918e04c8bb966057cbd1c.jpg

http://kushikanzashi.jp/images/collction/sec01IMG04.png

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3a/8e/6e/3a8e6e5fdf7a6d0dec31a61880705c7c.jpg

[Chromis]

WOw, these are so cool! So intricate!

[enting]

So many beauties in here!
This isn't antique or anything, but it certainly caught my eye: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wisteria-Flower-Hairpin-Hair-Stick-Kanzashi-Vintage-for-Hanfu-Kimono-Cheongsam/263148809682?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=562146876707&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

The page is mislabeled, it looks like it's a japanese maple branch, made out of metal. It is also available for purchase :eyebrows:.

[twill]

So many beauties in here!
This isn't antique or anything, but it certainly caught my eye: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wisteria-Flower-Hairpin-Hair-Stick-Kanzashi-Vintage-for-Hanfu-Kimono-Cheongsam/263148809682?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=562146876707&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

The page is mislabeled, it looks like it's a japanese maple branch, made out of metal. It is also available for purchase :eyebrows:.

It doesn't have to be antique - that one is very pretty...

Ugh. Some of the Sakae ones are for sale on rare occasion too, but they're like $3500. -_-

[twill]

Here's an exhibit piece for you guys: "René Lalique (French, 1860-1945) - This orchid comb is carved from a single piece of ivory and is set on a gold stem striped with brown enamel. Three leaves extend from the base of the blossom rendered in "plique-à-jour" enamel graduated in hue from delicate peach to pale olive. The central vein of each leaf begins with a short section of light grey enamel and is followed by a row of graduated diamonds 1903-1904. | The Walters Art Museum."
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e3/c7/4c/e3c74c246c3559314ca3af89d5879e24.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/54/c1/56/54c15632d344940243e9f24670923c77.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bd/12/b8/bd12b88fbfed4afe2b5c3e8af3904051.jpg

I'm not personally a huge fan of combs, but these are gorgeous:
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bc/a1/c0/bca1c0d87f9ec5f59a6e681633215d23.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/2d/a0/ba/2da0bae2c6c2a00094e52dda0d3900e6.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/af/29/35/af2935e45261a673edfbb9cd71357975.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/58/11/eb/5811eb5b09ac099baa755d39e2fc9b75.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f4/d8/48/f4d848c66873d80db66e9627a012a331.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/95/cf/7b/95cf7bf0364d7427257608fe18b8fd3e.jpg

Chinese kingfisher hairpins (the vibrant blue color is from inlaid kingfisher feathers):
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/81/fd/19/81fd19615def6d2b746960b6efa950ef.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e6/08/00/e60800c6f02e3cca1c938bc1b983a676.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/41/aa/ac/41aaac8474ab4c454d0c20d30ec1d612.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/34/f3/f7/34f3f7973f27ada1e5417378904d3cda.jpg

Another exhibit piece: "Lucien Gaillard / "Peigne Fleur de Pommier", ca. 1902 (ivory, gold, diamonds and Gaïac wood) - Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France"
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b8/a9/b8/b8a9b86a63e94cfe244da101093a547d.jpg

[twill]

Here's a hair slide!
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/32/77/d3/3277d393c33d81034d2b00fe0324a64d.jpg

This set is from Mongolia:
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/52/eb/7c/52eb7cbd1474bd410248ebc63ab90d42.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c5/1e/49/c51e490d4a91b697dd0b9c44b8ce540b.jpg

[twill]

"Paul Vever (1851 – 1915) and Henri Vever (1854 – 1942) for Maison Vever, after design by Eugène Samuel Grasset (1841–1917) Swan and Lily Pin, ca. 1900 .Ivory, gold, and enamel, Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris"
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8c/cd/0d/8ccd0d7f0f4e950c5cad494cb1666a5e.jpg

This one is not antique; the artist specializes in art noveau-style jewelry (she doesn't seem to have much in th way of hair stuff,
unfortunately, but her website is here: http://grimoire.studio/create.html):
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/39/fe/ff/39feff654dfcc1bae0896c7297211b00.jpg

[enting]

Oh my word the skill of those artists! Those flowers are carved ivory?! They look very realistic.
I like that set from Mongolia.

[twill]

Oh my word the skill of those artists! Those flowers are carved ivory?! They look very realistic.
I like that set from Mongolia.

Ikr? I love both of the French ivory flower ones, especially the Lucien Gaillard one.

[twill]

Two more from Mongolia:
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ed/3e/c4/ed3ec496aa2e6cc6e977dca8113804ca.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/1c/77/e3/1c77e39e5115a596de1b77dfdd4c9ec7.jpg

Tibet:
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/48/2b/87/482b8729976d40179eb6c158ce825767.jpg

P.S. If any of you are experts on certain kinds/regions of hair pieces and see any mislabeled items (i.e., something labeled as Japanese that isn't Japanese, something called antique that isn't antique), please let me know. I'm mostly relying on when and where the listings or descriptions say the pieces are from, what I know of different countries' art styles, and my semi-reliable age guess-timations which are by no means infallible.

[mira-chan]

That's a beautiful kanzashi in the first post.

The bone combs in this picture I own. They are hand carved, from Russia. I got these about 10 years ago now I think, from a little store not far from where my grandma lived.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10987&d=1400292843

[twill]

That's a beautiful kanzashi in the first post.

The bone combs in this picture I own. They are hand carved, from Russia. I got these about 10 years ago now I think, from a little store not far from where my grandma lived.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10987&d=1400292843

Oooh. I especially love those two white ones and the black stick... They're all very beautiful.

[mira-chan]

Oooh. I especially love those two white ones and the black stick... They're all very beautiful.

Thanks! The white ones are the bone combs. The center one is silver and the wood carved sticks were gotten on Crystalmood site a while ago, including the dark flower one.

I also have some kanzashi but they are relatively simple compared to what's been shown in the thread. These get used during dance performance.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10986&d=1400292770

[*Wednesday*]

That is very beautiful and unique.



The bone combs in this picture I own. They are hand carved, from Russia. I got these about 10 years ago now I think, from a little store not far from where my grandma lived.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10987&d=1400292843

Lovely detail.

[mira-chan]

That is very beautiful and unique.



Lovely detail.

Thank you. :) I was lucky to find them. I got them as soon as I saw them. They are special occasion ornaments.

[TatsuOni]

So many beauties in this thread! :popcorn:

[twill]

Thanks! The white ones are the bone combs. The center one is silver and the wood carved sticks were gotten on Crystalmood site a while ago, including the dark flower one.

I also have some kanzashi but they are relatively simple compared to what's been shown in the thread. These get used during dance performance.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10986&d=1400292770

Those are neat! I especially like the little silver fan. ^-^

[twill]

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5f/2f/50/5f2f50384c031cf4c4476f238dd1e7fb.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e4/67/5c/e4675c94cb7dbc970aefeb5736c5c537.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/63/5b/c2/635bc2563839602603daab178ac2c9bb.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/2b/55/52/2b555272e90fe68df39be83f6e184782.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b4/03/08/b4030822362ac9823a1a01cbb93ff1a2.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/52/63/6c/52636c99e4a1668c0a02807620010b75.jpg

[pandabarrier]

That's a beautiful kanzashi in the first post.

The bone combs in this picture I own. They are hand carved, from Russia. I got these about 10 years ago now I think, from a little store not far from where my grandma lived.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10987&d=1400292843

mira-chan you photographed your pretty hair toys on a beautiful crochet background!

[Jezerellica]

How beautiful is this??! Thank you for sharing.

[Natalia_A00]

This is so beautiful! I would love to see it in a bun

[Dark40]

Wow, that is gorgeous!

[lapushka]

That post is from almost 2 years ago, guys. ;)

[Ylva]

That post is from almost 2 years ago, guys. ;)

Then again, it does have a sharing aspect to it ("Seen any special hair items that really blew your mind? Post them here!"), so maybe if it's bumped every once in a while, someone might have a special hairpiece to share. :) Who knows.

[enting]

Bumping!

This isn't going to be as fancy as the first post, but I thought it was pretty. http://www.gingerdeforestlaw.com/hair-picks/calla-lily-hairstick-copper-stick-hair-chopstick-flower-hair-accessory-elegant-updo-wedding-hair-flower-decor-bridesmaid-hair-bling-et-22s66ee3-0837.html

and this one might not be everyone's idea of beauty, but I did think it was quite unique: https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/128655755/skull-crossbones-bun-cover?ref=shop_home_feat_1&source=aw&awc=6091_1566760868_7416c94e93eab063ca7401ebd6e21f 11&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=uk_location_buyer&utm_content=218035&utm_term=137027

[jane_marie]

That is so gorgeous. I'm in love.

[Groovy Granny]

Then again, it does have a sharing aspect to it ("Seen any special hair items that really blew your mind? Post them here!"), so maybe if it's bumped every once in a while, someone might have a special hairpiece to share. :) Who knows.:agree: A thread like this has a timeless quality to it even if the OP is long gone.
Some of the items are museum quality...and very interesting to see! :eye:


Bumping!

This isn't going to be as fancy as the first post, but I thought it was pretty. http://www.gingerdeforestlaw.com/hair-picks/calla-lily-hairstick-copper-stick-hair-chopstick-flower-hair-accessory-elegant-updo-wedding-hair-flower-decor-bridesmaid-hair-bling-et-22s66ee3-0837.html

and this one might not be everyone's idea of beauty, but I did think it was quite unique: https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/128655755/skull-crossbones-bun-cover?ref=shop_home_feat_1&source=aw&awc=6091_1566760868_7416c94e93eab063ca7401ebd6e21f 11&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=uk_location_buyer&utm_content=218035&utm_term=137027

Very pretty lily sticks; they must be slippery ...especially in my fine/wispy head.
It would surely catch in all those twisted wires...but it is a very cool design :thumbsup:

[enting]

:agree: A thread like this has a timeless quality to it even if the OP is long gone.
Some of the items are museum quality...and very interesting to see! :eye:



Very pretty lily sticks; they must be slippery ...especially in my fine/wispy head.
It would surely catch in all those twisted wires...but it is a very cool design :thumbsup:

Of the very elegant and elaborate hair accessories out there, many are indeed of metal and look slippery. I'll have to keep an eye out for nonmetal beauts!

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I know this is an old thread, but I have always thought this comb fabulous - solid gold.

https://i.imgur.com/NNtnZfb.jpg

[enting]

Solid gold? My goodness!
Do you know what the scene context is? Clearly it's a fight of some sort, but I don't know if anything else is known about it?

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Solid gold? My goodness!
Do you know what the scene context is? Clearly it's a fight of some sort, but I don't know if anything else is known about it?

All I know about it is that it's Scythian, from a burial, I'm guessing.

[Groovy Granny]

:thud: wow....amazing piece!

[PillowBook]

All I know about it is that it's Scythian, from a burial, I'm guessing.

WOW... what a remarkable piece! I wonder how heavy it is, and if it could actually be worn.

[cjk]

I suspect part of it is an issue of balance. The hilt of a sword, for instance, provides a balancing weight for the much longer, but thinner, blade.

That ORIGINAL piece is absolutely stunning. The crane is just amazing.

Is it wrong that I want to make some sort of takeoff on it, for my own use? Not sure how, but I have a jeweler as a friend.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I suspect part of it is an issue of balance. The hilt of a sword, for instance, provides a balancing weight for the much longer, but thinner, blade.

That ORIGINAL piece is absolutely stunning. The crane is just amazing.

Is it wrong that I want to make some sort of takeoff on it, for my own use? Not sure how, but I have a jeweler as a friend.

I don't see that it would be wrong, myself. If you do have something made I would love to see it.

[enting]

I agree with Sarahlabyrinth. If you're concerned, there are many discussions of intellectual rights and so forth on the internet.

[cjk]

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3b/65/e3/3b65e375e8bddbd8841d9fb12417ad5d.jpg


I agree with Sarahlabyrinth. If you're concerned, there are many discussions of intellectual rights and so forth on the internet.

The original piece in this thread is Japanese, from the Edo period. 150-400 years ago. Probably not a big deal WRT intellectual property. My concern wasn't IP, it was taste. A Geisha's fork reimagined for a man.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3b/65/e3/3b65e375e8bddbd8841d9fb12417ad5d.jpg



The original piece in this thread is Japanese, from the Edo period. 150-400 years ago. Probably not a big deal WRT intellectual property. My concern wasn't IP, it was taste. A Geisha's fork reimagined for a man.

True, but he can have his own taste in what he wears in his hair and it doesn't matter if we like it or not. :)

[cjk]

True, but he can have his own taste in what he wears in his hair and it doesn't matter if we like it or not. :)

He is me.

I have some ideas, inspiration rather than a slavish copy. Definitely need a crane, though. Very Japanese.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

He is me.

I have some ideas, inspiration rather than a slavish copy. Definitely need a crane, though. Very Japanese.

Yes, I figured it wouldn't be an exact copy. :)

[Elodea]

I have been looking at old Chinese paintings online for hairstyle inspiration, and I ended up looking at some historical Chinese hairpins as well. These are all from the Freer-Sackler Smithsonian museum collection.

This one is carved jade, so intricate! I wish I could wear it! https://www.freersackler.si.edu/object/S1987.754/ Apparently it is from the 16th or 17th century.

This one is metal, from the late 19th or early 20th century. https://www.freersackler.si.edu/object/RLS1997.48.4641/

A simple small jade fork from the Han dynasty, 2nd century BCE- 2nd century CE https://www.freersackler.si.edu/object/S1987.883/

I really wish it were possible to buy replicas of these designs of hair toys, especially that first one.

[bparnell75]

Those are lovely! Amen on the first one.. WOW

[Elodea]

I wonder how much a modern-day replica of that first stick might cost, if someone were to make one and sell it. I found a similar historical Chinese jade hair stick that had been auctioned and sold for something like $4000... understandable, but not practical for most people to buy, I assume.

[cjk]

Inexpensive helical-coil jade hairsticks are on eBay every day. Usually $10 or less. They're not as lovely as that piece, but they do have much the same feel.

[CherryFrizz]

cjk - I don’t see anything wrong with being inspired by such a beautiful piece of art. Additionally, the crane is clearly a reflection of nature, and doesn't read particularly feminine to me.

Of course, that's just my opinion. Yours is the one that counts.

[cjk]

cjk - I don’t see anything wrong with being inspired by such a beautiful piece of art. Additionally, the crane is clearly a reflection of nature, and doesn't read particularly feminine to me.

I've always had a difficult time separating beautiful and appropriate. Consequently there have been moments that I went full Elton John, unintentionally.

There's always a line that shouldn't be crossed. Unknowingly. Doing it on purpose is a different thing.

[Dark40]

Wow, that is beautiful :)